A friend's daughter, son-in-law and small grandson lived with him for a time. All were sitting in the living room one evening when the toddler, ambling along, tripped and fell into the coffee table. Everyone consoled the child and talked about what a menace was a coffee table.

The next evening the scenario was repeated and the baby had a large lump on his forehead.

The grandfather, who had been nipping a bit, stood up, picked up the table and tossed it out the front door into the yard. Neighbors within eyesight peered through curtains as the wispy little man poured gasoline on the table and flung a match at it. As it raged, then burned to ashes, not one person, including the cop who lived directly across the street, came out to ask why.

In the neighborhood, the incident became known as the Fiery Death of Carl's G.D. Coffee Table.

~:o) Mary